Most people admire glass and see its intrinsic qualities and then others, like Lori Bedard, work to bring about a beauty only imagined. By seeking to bring imagination melded with a combination of techniques, she often wanders into areas not focused on by the mainstream. Offering a unique study or a twisted perspective of art glass creations.

“Hidden Garden” by Lori Bedard

About the artist:

Born and raised in Oregon, nature and the environment have always been at the forefront for this Portlander. Moving and living in Hawaii for five years brought a love for the sea and ocean life, and traveling, as a military wife for sixteen years, throughout the U.S. and abroad instilled a love and respect for life and the earth. Lori earned an undergraduate degree in business, an associates in accounting and minored in art. This unusual left and right brain function combined with life experiences has emerged as art based in cold and hot glass disciplines with functionality and solid engineering.

Back in Oregon for the last 25 years with her husband of 37 years, glass has been a primary focus. Lori Bedard owned, operated, and taught art glass in her Canby glass store for over 13 years. During this time, custom residential commissions were a high percentage of the work. Offering custom design and quality construction to clients throughout the west. In 07’, the business was closed and moved to a home studio (or rather, barn). For the past ten years, Lori has been free to experiment and create the unconventional in addition to servicing her business and residential clients. Her work has been viewed in a dozen galleries and shops throughout the state as well as fine art shows. Most recent, a co-op gallery on the coast in which she also curated about 3000sf and 30+ artists.

With thousands of square feet of glass, a few hundred pounds of frit, numerous supplies, and the potential for creativity is boundless. Factor in skill, experience, and knowledge and you have a diverse, beautiful, and bountiful body of work offered through Lori Bedard.

“Nature is beauty sublime. To use the botanical as a subject for art, invokes memories of that beauty and how it inspires each of us. As an artist, if we incite that reaction with each view; we were successful.” –-Lori Bedard

Q: How does the artist create, you ask?

A: In creating Dragonfly Marsh:

The center piece is a fuse glass base. The dragonfly and leaves are casted separately with fine frit and then fired onto the glass base. The swirled rods are slumped into a wave shape and then fired on the base at the same time as the frit castings. The border is made of Murano glass rods above and below, the sides are leaded glass nuggets (flat on the back). The outer border is beveled glass with 14g tinned copper wire accents. This open work style I refer to as cut work glass and I believe is unique to me as an artist. –-Lori Bedard

A: In creating Dragonfly Meadow:

After obtaining some odd shaped beveled glass pieces, I developed this design. The dragonfly is stained glass with a lead cast body painted with an alcohol based metal paint. The rocks are polished agate and sardonyx slices. The branches are copper tubing with a mix of 12 and 14g tinned copper. The leaves are made from adventurine green Bullseye glass with glass nuggets for the seed pods. The entire piece hangs from a heavy gauge brass spinner, allowing it to turn for east viewing. —Lori Bedard

Lori Bedard spoke during the opening reception for Observing Botany at the Fairweather House and Gallery for the April Seaside First Saturday Art Walk, as well as demonstrated the art of fused glass. Photo collage by Linda Fenton-Mendenhall.

Fairweather House and Gallery offers an exploration between the study of botany and fine art.

The opening reception for Observing Botany, the gallery’s April exhibition, presents original artworks in watercolor, graphite, colored pencil and pen & ink and the exploration of the many styles, forms and approaches unique to botanical illustration.

Regional artists will be on hand at the exhibit to answer questions, provide interesting facts or anecdotes about Observing Botany.

“Nature is beauty sublime. To use the botanical as a subject for art, invokes memories of that beauty and how it inspires each of us. As an artist, if we incite that reaction with each view; we were successful.” —Lori

Sea stars off the Oregon coast have picked survival. They’re mounting an epic comeback, after a sea–star wasting disease decimated the marine animals in 2014. It’s no secret that the condition triggered the biggest sea star die-off along the West Coast in recorded history.

“Just got accepted at the Fairweather Gallery in Seaside. Talked about my work with the gallery owner, Denise, and got really excited about upcoming events. Namely, I will be a featured artist for April with my Raku glass pieces. The theme is botany observations and I will demonstrating my Raku work on the 7th during the Artist’s reception. I will also have a few of my cut-work stained glass pieces and my fused shelves. Life is good. Mark your calendars and come to Seaside in April!” –Lori

Lori Bedard, glass artist.

Lori’s studio.

Yes, indeed, artist, Lori Bedard, with 22 years as a professional art glass designer and fabricator, works from her home studio in the Northwest and now can be found the Fairweather Gallery!

About Lori:

Most people admire glass and see it’s intrinsic qualities and then others, like Lori Bedard, work to bring about a beauty only imagined. By seeking to bring imagination melded with a combination of techniques, she often wanders into areas not focused on by the mainstream. Offering a unique study or a twisted perspective of art glass creations.

Born and raised in Oregon, nature and the environment have always been at the forefront for this Portlander. Moving and living in Hawaii for five years brought a love for the sea and ocean life, and traveling, as a military wife for sixteen years, throughout the U.S. and abroad instilled a love and respect for life and the earth. Lori earned an undergraduate degree in business, an associates in accounting and minored in art. This unusual left and right brain function combined with life experiences has emerged as art based in cold and hot glass disciplines with functionality and solid engineering.

Back in Oregon for the last 25 years with her husband of 37 years, glass has been a primary focus. Lori owned, operated, and taught art glass in her Canby glass store for over 13 years. During this time, custom residential commissions were a high percentage of the work. Offering custom design and quality construction to clients throughout the west. In 07’, the business was moved to a home studio (or rather, barn). For the past ten years, Lori has been free to experiment and create the unconventional in addition to servicing her business and residential clients. Her work has been viewed in a dozen galleries and shops throughout the state as well as fine art shows.

With thousands of square feet of glass, a few hundred pounds of frit, numerous supplies, the potential for creativity is boundless. Factor in skill, experience, and knowledge and you have a diverse, beautiful, and bountiful body of work offered through Lori Bedard.

And, too, new mini-micro, mailable glass work by Rinee Merritt.

“A continued investigation into horticulture and science engages my conversations in kilnformed glass. I frequently include the language of graphic design to focus my communication and messaging. Using glass silkscreening, glass kiln forming and glass casting, I use the light and color to direct my studies in texture, shape, and species.” –Rinee Merritt

Rinee’s glasswork has been included in numerous shows. Her work can found at the Fairweather Gallery in Seaside.